Holder for a beverage container

ABSTRACT

A holder for a beverage container has a receiving chamber for insertion of a beverage container, a further container, for example an ashtray, and a guide with which the further container is removable from the receiving chamber and turnable to a side, so that the receiving chamber can be used for insertion of a beverage container, and when the beverage container is not inserted, it can be used for receiving of the ashtray.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

[0001] The present invention relates to a holder for a beverage container, such as for example a can, a glass or a cup.

[0002] Holders of the above mentioned general type are known in many modifications. It is believed to be clear that the known holders for beverage containers can be further improved.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

[0003] Accordingly, it is an object of the present invention to provide a holder for the beverage container which is a further improvement of the existing holders and is formed in a space economical manner.

[0004] In keeping with these objects and with others which will become apparent hereinafter, one feature of the present invention resides, briefly stated, in a holder for a beverage container which has a receiving chamber for insertion of a beverage container, wherein in the receiving chamber a further container is received, which has a guide on which said further container is movable from said receiving chamber.

[0005] The receiving chamber can be formed for example as a recess in a dashboard or an intermediate console of motor vehicle. In the receiving chamber, the further container is received, such as for example an ashtray, a storage compartment or a spectacle case.

[0006] This construction has the advantage in that, when the receiving chamber is not used for insertion of the beverage container, it can be used for insertion of the further container, and therefore the space which is used for the receiving chamber is utilized twice.

[0007] For providing insertion of a beverage container into the receiving chamber, the inventive holder has a guide on which the further container can be movable from the receiving chamber. When the further container is moved from the receiving chamber, a beverage container can be introduced into the receiving chamber.

[0008] In accordance with a further feature of the present invention, a reverse approach is provided. The holder has a guide for a receptacle for receiving the beverage container, with which the receptacle is reciprocatingly movable between a base position and a use position. In the base position the receptacle surrounds the further container, while in the use position the receptacle is usable for insertion of a beverage container. Here also the space for the receptacle is utilized twice.

[0009] In accordance with a further embodiment of the present invention, the guide for the further container or for the receptacle is formed as a telescopic guide. The container or the receptacle is displaced with the telescopic guide, for example upwardly. In addition, the guide can have a turning support, for turning the receiving chamber or the further container toward a side. Thereby the receiving chamber is available for the beverage container or the further container for insertion or removal of an object.

[0010] In the illustrated embodiments of the invention, the further container is formed as an ashtray. However, it can be formed as another object as well.

[0011] The novel features which are considered as characteristic for the present invention are set forth in particular in the appended claims. The invention itself, however, both as to its construction and its method of operation, together with additional objects and advantages thereof, will be best understood from the following description of specific embodiments when read in connection with the accompanying drawings.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0012] FIGS. 1-3 are views showing a holder for a beverage container in accordance with the an embodiment of the present invention, in different positions; and

[0013] FIGS. 4-7 are views showing a holder for a beverage container in accordance with a second embodiment of the present invention, in different positions.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

[0014] A holder in accordance with a first embodiment of the present invention is identified as a whole with reference numeral 10. It is used for insertion of a beverage container such as for example a beverage can 12 shown in FIG. 3, a glass or a cup. The holder 10 is mounted for example in a dashboard or a central console 14 of a motor vehicle. The dashboard or the central console 14 is shown in the drawing as a square surface.

[0015] The holder 10 has a receiving chamber 16 for insertion of the beverage container 12. The receiving chamber 16 is formed as substantially cylindrical depression in the central console 14. In a peripheral wall 18 of the receiving chamber 16, a compensating flap 20 which extends substantially in a peripheral direction is provided. It turns in a spring-loading fashion a piece into the receiving chamber 14. The compensation flap 20 serves for adaptation of the receiving chamber 16 to the beverage containers of different diameters.

[0016] The holder 10, in a lateral extension of the receiving chamber 16, has a telescopic guide 22. A further container which is in the shown embodiment an ashtray 24 is mounted on the telescopic guide 22. By means of the telescopic guide 22, the ashtray 24 can be displaced from a position shown in FIG. 1 in which it is lowered in the receiving chamber 16, to a position in which it is moved upwardly from the receiving chamber 16 as shown in FIGS. 2 and 3. The lifting of the ashtray 24 from the receiving chamber 16 is performed for example under an action of a spring which is arranged in the telescopic guide 22 and not shown in the drawings. In the position lowered in the receiving chamber 16, the ashtray 24 is held by a locking device, for example a push-push mechanical device, which can be unlocked by a brief pressure on the ashtray 24.

[0017] The telescopic guide 22 has a turning bearing, with which the ashtray 24 is turnable to a position turned to the side relative to the receiving chamber 16 as shown in FIGS. 2 and 3. By the lateral turning of the ashtray 24 which is lifted upwardly from the receiving chamber 16, the receiving chamber 16 becomes available from above, so that a beverage container 12 is insertable into the receiving chamber 16 as shown in FIG. 3.

[0018] A cover 26 is provided on an upper side of the ashtray 14. It is arranged so that it is turnable about a vertical axis and to the side. The ash container 24 is closeable by the cover 26. In the lower position of the ashtray 24 in the receiving chamber 16, both the ashtray 24 and the receiving chamber 16 are closeable with the cover 26. The cover 26 can be turned to the side when the ashtray 24 is in its lowered position in the receiving chamber 16. Therefore the ashtray 24 is usable in the lowered position as well.

[0019] The second embodiment of the holder for a beverage container is shown in FIGS. 4-7. The components of the holder of this embodiment which are identical to the components of the holder shown in FIG. 1-3 are identified with the same reference numerals.

[0020] The holder 10 of this embodiment has a claw-shaped, circular receptacle 28 for insertion of a beverage container, for example a glass 30. In a base position shown in FIGS. 4 and 5, the receptacle 28 is lowered in are approximately cylindrical depression 32 of the dashboard or the central console 14. The receptacle 24 engages a substantially cylindrical further container, which is formed as an ashtray 24 in the shown embodiment. It lowers into the depression 32 in the central console 14.

[0021] In contrast to the embodiment of FIGS. 1-3, in the holder 10 shown in FIGS. 4-7 the ashtray 24 is arranged immovably in a depression 32 in the central console 14, and the receptacle 28 is liftable with a telescopic guide upwardly from the depression 32. The telescopic guide in FIGS. 4-7 is covered by the receptacle 28 and therefore not visible. The telescopic guide includes a turning support, with which the receptacle 28 is turnable to the side to a position shown in FIGS. 6 and 7. In this position the ashtray 24 is accessible. The ashtray 24 has a cover 26 which is turnable about a vertical axis. In FIGS. 4, 6 and 7 it closes the ashtray 24.

[0022] A compensating cap 20 is provided in the receptacle 28. It extends approximately in a peripheral direction of the receptacle 28 and is turned in a spring-loaded way into the receptacle 28. For lowering the beverage container 30, the receptacle 28 has two bottom flaps 34 which are supported with horizontal turning shafts 36 turnably in the receptacle 28. During lowering of the receptacle 28 into the depression 32 of the central console 14, the bottom flaps 34 are turned upwardly from the ashtray 24 into recesses 38 on the inner side of the receptacle 28. During lifting of the receptacle 28 from the depression 32 of the central console 14, the bottom flaps 34 turn by force of gravity or actuated by a torsion spring, to a horizontal supporting position shown in FIG. 6.

[0023] It will be understood that each of the elements described above, or two or more together, may also find a useful application in other types of constructions differing from the types described above.

[0024] While the invention has been illustrated and described as embodied in a holder for beverage containers, it is not intended to be limited to the details shown, since various modifications and structural changes may be made without departing in any way from the spirit of the present invention.

[0025] Without further analysis, the foregoing will so fully reveal the gist of the present invention that others can, by applying current knowledge, readily adapt it for various applications without omitting features that, from the standpoint of prior art, fairly constitute essential characteristics of the generic or specific aspects of this invention.

[0026] What is claimed as new and desired to be protected by Letters Patent is set forth in the appended claims. 

1. A holder for a beverage container, comprising a receiving chamber for insertion of a beverage container; a further container which is receivable in said receiving chamber; and a guide on which said further container is movable out of said receiving chamber.
 2. A holder as defined in claim 1 , wherein said guide is formed as a telescopic guide.
 3. A holder as defined in claim 1 , wherein said guide has a turning support, with which said further container is turnably guided to a side.
 4. A holder as defined in claim 1 , wherein said further container is an ashtray.
 5. A holder for a beverage container, comprising a receptacle for receiving a beverage container; a further container arranged so that said receptacle in a base position surrounds said further container; and a guide on which said receptacle is movable to a use position in which said beverage container is insertable in said receptacle.
 6. A holder as defined in claim 5 , wherein with said further container in said use position said receptacle is accessible.
 7. A holder as defined in claim 5 , wherein said guide is formed as a telescopic guide.
 8. A holder as defined in claim 5 , wherein said guide has a turning support with which said receptacle is movably guided to a side. 